The Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) celebrated a remarkable victory in the TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, claiming their third title with an overpowering performance against the Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). The final showdown took place at the iconic MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, a venue ripe with nostalgia for KKR as it was there, back in 2012, that they lifted their maiden IPL trophy. Fast forward to May 26, 2024, and they orchestrated another brilliant display of cricketing prowess to seal yet another win, revitalizing their legacy in the IPL history books.
In what turned out to be a triumph defined by KKR’s comprehensive all-round performance, their bowlers were the undisputed stars. Tasked with the challenge of curbing SRH’s formidable batting lineup, KKR managed to limit their opponents to a modest score of 113 runs. It was a target comfortably chased down by KKR in just 10.3 overs, doing so with eight wickets to spare, a testament to both their batting firepower and the strategic acumen they brought to the game.
The match began with SRH winning the toss and opting to bat first. KKR captain Shreyas Iyer expressed a preference for bowling, a sentiment vindicated by the spectacular showing of KKR’s bowlers. Leading the charge was Mitchell Starc, whose earlier exploits against the same opponents in Ahmedabad marked him as a key player. He delivered a spell of bowling brilliance that set the tone for the rest of the match.
Starc opened the attack with a ferocious display, immediately putting SRH on the back foot. In a thrilling first over, pitched expertly around the middle stump, he managed to outmaneuver SRH opener Abhishek Sharma, sending his off-stump cartwheeling and drawing first blood for KKR. This decisive bowling continued as Vaibhav Arora followed Starc’s lead, dismissing the dangerous Travis Head with a delivery that kissed the edge of Head’s bat straight into the keeper’s hands. With SRH struggling at 6 for 2, the crucial duo was quickly back in the pavilion.
KKR’s opening bowlers locked SRH in a stranglehold, leaving them gasping for runs as boundaries became a rarity. Rahul Tripathi tried to break the shackles but ended up skying a ball high only to be caught at mid-wicket, further sinking SRH’s hopes.
SRH did enjoy a fleeting moment of relief as Nitish Reddy docked 17 runs off a Vaibhav Arora over, including the team’s first six. However, KKR bowlers kept SRH under the pump.
. Andre Russell and Harshit Rana joined the fray, each claiming vital wickets and causing further dents in the already-perforated SRH batting order. Spin maestros Sunil Narine and Varun Chakaravarthy executed impressive economical bowling spells, leaving SRH struggling to find their rhythm.
Reddy’s dismissal, caught behind off Rana soon after the powerplay, was a blow from which SRH couldn’t recover. Aiden Markram’s innings ended at 20 when he misjudged Russell’s delivery to find Mitchell Starc positioned perfectly at long-on. Shahbaz Ahmed and Abdul Samad succumbed cheaply, leaving SRH’s innings in tatters. Heinrich Klaasen perished to Rana’s lethal delivery before SRH could reach the three-figure mark.
Facing an uphill battle, Pat Cummins attempted a last-ditch rescue effort, becoming SRH’s highest scorer with 24 runs. Despite being dropped early by Starc, Cummins’ resistance ended when he found Starc again in the outfield, closing SRH’s innings just shy of a more respectable score.
In pursuit of 114, KKR commenced their innings with explosive intent. Rahmanullah Gurbaz opened with a boundary, setting the stage for a swift and decisive chase. Although Sunil Narine’s attempt to replicate his earlier six ended in a mishap, Venkatesh Iyer’s powerful hitting quashed any uncertainty surrounding the chase. His aggressive blitzkrieg against the SRH bowlers, particularly targeting Bhuvneshwar Kumar with consecutive sixes, left the opposition scrambling.
Venkatesh maintained his authoritative stance, mowing down the target with surgical precision and ensuring that KKR crossed the fifty-run mark within five overs. His formidable stroke-play dominated the proceedings, leaving SRH with no reprieve as he consistently found the boundary, clearing his intentions with ease.
Even though Gurbaz later departed for 39 runs, the platform was set. Venkatesh Iyer, in splendid form, reached his half-century from a mere 24 balls. With the finish line in sight, he ensured KKR’s victory with resounding finality, punching home the winning runs as his teammates erupted into jubilant celebration.
Thus, the Kolkata Knight Riders convincingly wrapped up the final with their trio of IPL titles secured, a gripping finale underlining their indisputable status as one of the giants of the league.